Los Angeles has become the largest city in the US to clamp a ban on the use of plastic bags. Toeing the line adopted by San Francisco, Seattle and many other cities worldwide, the Los Angeles City Council also voted 11-1 in favor of the ban.

With plastic bags entering landfills, waterways and finally the ocean, the substance has been threatening the environment in a major scale. With council having voted for a check, the ban will come into effect starting January 1, next year.

This move, by the end of 2014, also would covers over 30% of California’s population by laws regulating plastic and paper bags.

The law would mean that stores in Los Angeles will need to provide paper bags for a fee of 10 cents from customers, who do not bring their own bags to the store. This fee could be kept by the store itself to offset the costs that come due to adhering to the ordinance. However, from January 1, 2014, ban will be applicable to stores that make over $2 million per year or have an area of 10,000 sq. ft., while small retailers have been given time up to July 1 to ensure that necessary steps are taken.

Council member Paul Koretz who introduced the city ordinance, has been quoted as saying that this step by Los Angeles could be a model for the rest of the country.

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